Last week I called Zoe's endocrinologist to tell her that we are ready to start Zoe's Growth Hormone Therapy. The doctor gave me a list of three different brands that would most likely get covered by our insurance. Mike and I have spent the last week researching the different brands. They are Genotropin, Norditropin, and Nutropin AQ. What we have figured out is that all these brands are actually the same medicine (Somatropin), just made by different pharmaceutical companies. So the decision came down to which delivery system we prefer.
We chose the Norditropin Nordiflex. The medicine comes in a vial that is premixed (in the other options we would have had to mix the powered medicine with liquid and measure it out and stuff..no thank you!). All we have to do with the Norditropin is place the vial into this cool pen looking thingy (pictured above), move the dial on the pen to how much medicine Zoe gets, and give Zoe the shot. Boom, it's done. Okay, it's really a little more complicated than that but the Norditropin seems like it's the easiest of all our choices. And I found out from some other people who use Growth Hormone Therapy that they really like Norditropin, including other families with Russell-Silver Syndrome.
So I called the doctor back yesterday with our decision. Now we wait for her to contact Norditropin, they will have somebody work with our insurance company to make sure this will get covered, then we will be mailed a 3 month supply of the medicine. Mike, Zoe, and I will go into the doctor's office the first day that we use the medicine so that we can be instructed on how to use it and do the first shot there. I'll be the one giving Zoe the shots. I'm the one that's less scared of needles. Less scared. Really...I'm scared to death of what I'm about to do to my daughter. But it's for her benefit and I hope it will be worth it.
What if my hands are shaking really bad when I try giving the needle?
Hopefully this will help her to grow taller. If we don't do this therapy then Zoe will probably max out around 4 feet tall. With it the doctor thinks she might be around 5 feet. It should also help her to fill out a little bit. She has such tiny hands and feet and no meat on her bones. I really hope this helps her.
Nervous.
I'll keep you posted...
What a big step. I'll be thinking about you.
ReplyDeleteWish this would work for Evan. I think any "boost" to improve their quality of life will be worth it.
Good luck. Think tall thoughts!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing a good job mommy. It's amazing how we can get past deathly fear of needles for benefit of our babies. I was laying awake last night wondering how Miss Zoe and you were.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a wonderful mom. I know you will do great and that Zoe will see that you are only doing it because you love her. Good lucky and hope it works!! Hugs your way. xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, I love you!
ReplyDeleteMan, good luck! I'd only say *try* not to look too worried or stressed about it when the time comes, otherwise it will probably be harder on Zoe. :/
ReplyDeleteYou're going to be amazing and Zo-Zo is going to be amazing and Mike probably will be too. :)
ReplyDeleteYour hands will be fine. She's a little angel.
You're going to do great!
ReplyDeleteOh, that does sound scary. But you can do it because you've mastered running! It's just one step at a time.
ReplyDeleteWhen do we get to see you guys again? Maybe we can plan something for sometime in February!
You can do it, Mel! Think steady, tall thoughts. And when will one of your runs bring you by our house?
ReplyDeleteGood luck. We are new to Magic--our son was recently diagnosed with RSS and I have been researching growth hormone so I was happy to read about your thoughts. We will be attending the convention in July and are looking forward to meeting other families--Best Wishes
ReplyDeleteHi. I just found your blog through the Magic Foundation. We're also about to start Norditropin! We're getting EMLA skin numbing cream to use - at least for the first few weeks. Just talking to the nurse about using the cream made me calm down a lot. She claims they really don't feel much when the skin is numbed. Also good for blood draws. If you're part of the Yahoo group, I just posted about it. Contact me if you want to connect. It looks like we're going through the same thing at the same time! Best of luck
ReplyDeleteAll the best...hope everything will be fine!!!
ReplyDeleteRyan@Human Growth Hormone